US oil imports change with supply, geopolitics

摘要

The volume and origin of US crude imports are shifting as high- er US production reduces the need for lighter quality grades and global geopolitics changes the landscape of potential suppliers. Total US crude imports this year are averaging 6.89mn b/d through October, according to the latest monthly data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), compared with a full year average for 2018 of just under 7.8mn b/d. The nearly 885,000 b/d drop in imports refects increased US production - which surpassed 12.65mn b/d in October for a new record - as well as a shift in the crude quality required by US refners.